Interlocking apparatus for the control of railway-switches



H. S. LOOMIS. INTERLOCKINIG APPARATUS FOR THE CONTROL OF RAILWAY SWITCHES.

' APPLlCATlON FILED APR. H, 1919.

1,398,785. Patented Nov. 29,1921.

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51mm 0mm mama mam/11ml iNvN'roR H. S. LOOMIS. 1

INTERLOCKING APPARATUS FOR THE CONTROL OF RAILWAY SWITCHES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 11. 1919.

1,398,785.. Patented N 0v.29,192 1.

swim? arm/117M121 Z06YiZ V6 am/IBM v Q Q N KINVENTOR H. S. LOOMIS.

INTERLOCKING APPARATUS FOR THE CONTROL OF RAILWAY SWITCHES.

APPLIQATION FILED APR. H. 1919.

1,398,785. Patnted Nov. 29, 1921.

15' ,smmy arm/Imam mama mcimzzsM 1 H IINYENTOR q H. S. LOOMIS.

INTERLOCKING APPARATUS FOR THE CONTROL OF RAILWAY SWITCHES.

APPLICATION FILED APR- II; [919- 1,398,785, Patented Nov 29, 1921.

' I 5 sums suzzr 4.

INVENTOR $1M H. SLLOOMIS. INT ERLOCKING APPARATUS FOR THE CONTROL OF RAILWAY SWITCHES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. II. 1919.

398,785. Patented Nov. 29, 1921.

' warren stares parent orece. I

HAROLD S. LOOMIS, OF WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE UNION SWITCH & SIGNAL COMPANY, OF SW'ISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIAfA CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

INTERLOCKING APPARATUS non THE con'rnonon RAILWAY-SWITCHES.

Specification of Letters Yatent.

Patented Nov. 29, 1921.

Application filed April 11, 1919. Serial No. 289,237.

T 0 all to hom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HAROLD S. LOOMIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Wilkinsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Interlockin Apparatus for the Control of Railway-@witches, of which the following is r a specification.

My invention relates to apparatus forv the control of railway switches, and particularly'to apparatus of the type wherein a switch is controlled by a lever of an 1nterlocking machine. More specifically, the 1nvention relates to the indication means provided in such apparatus for governing the movements of the control lever.

In apparatus of this character, as is well understood, the indication means is provided with two circuits, one of which includes a contact controlled by the switch and closed only when the switch is in normal positlon, and the other of which includes a contact likewise controlled by the switch and closed only when the switch is in reverse position. The switch is, of course, controlled by an intermediate device (such as a relay in an all-electric system, or electrically controlled valve apparatus in the electropneiu matic system), which device is, in turn, controlled by the lever. Now let us assume that the lever has been moved from its normal po sition to the reverse indicating position, that the intermediate device fails to respond to such movement at the time, and that the lever is returned to the normal position, as would be possible with only the apparatus thus far mentioned. Later on, due to the jarring of a passing train or to some other cause, the intermediate device may make the response which it should have made while the lever was in the reverse indicating position, whereupon the switch will move to itsreverse position; but the lever will then be in the normal position, that is, in a position which does not harmonize withthe position of the switch. As is well understood, this is a condition which cannot be tolerated, and the possibility of such a condition has heretofore been eliminated by introducing a further instrumentality known as a quick switch into the control of the indication means, this quick switch being operated by the control lever. V This quick switch requires that when the lever has once beenmoved posite indicating position, the movement of the lever must: be continued to the opposite extreme posltion before it can be returned to its original position. This requirement .55 from an original extreme position to the opguarantees that the intermediate device.rei sponds' to the movement of the lever.

One object of the present invention is the provision of means which may be used as a substitute for the quick switch and which will require response of the intermediate quick-switch is employed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing one form "of apparatus embodying my invention. "Figs. '2, 8, 4 and 5 are views showing modifications of certain parts of the apparatus shown inFig.

ventionp Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of the several views.

Referring first to Fig. l, the'reference character A designates a railway switch, which switch is controlled by a lever L, this lever usually being one of a plurality of similar levers in an interlocking machine. The control of the switch by the lever may be accomplished by any one of anumber of different forms of apparatusand this control constitutes no part of my present invention. As here shown, the means between the lever and the switch comprises aswitch one direction or the other through the me-' dium of control wires, 15, 1 5. When the -I6l "ty E is energizedin normal direction as shown, the mechanism C is actuated to move the switch to its normal position, whereas l, and also embodying my in 975 operating and locking mechanism of any when the relay is energized in the reverse direction, the mechanism is actuated to move the switch to its reverse position.

controlled by contacts B and D on the lever L, and also by a relayR, known as the indication relay. This relay R is in turn controlled by a pole-changer P actuated by the switch A, so that the relay repeats the position of the switch, the control being such that the relay is energized in normal or reverse direction according as the switch is in normal or reverse position, and is deenergized when the switch is in all intermediate positions.

The movements of the lever L are further controlled by a segment S attached to the lever and having dogs 7 and 8 which cooperate with a latch 26- governed by an electromagnet M 'This latter magnet is provided with circuits which are controlled by lever-operated contacts B and D and by a back point of the neutral contact 16 of relay R. The segment S and its latch 26 are further controlled insuch manneras to constitute a detector lock, and to this end the magnet M is provided with an additional or detectorcircuit controlled by lever-operated contacts X and Y and by a relay 3 which is connected with the track rails adjacent the switch A. Relay 3 constitutes part of a track circuit which also includes the switch rails, the track rails adjacent the i switch, and a track battery 2.

The lever actuated contacts are arranged to operate as follows: Each contact B is closed when the lever is in the normal indicating position, that is, when the lever is stopped by the engagement of dog 10 with latch 26 while the lever is moving from the reverse to the normal position. Each contact D is closed when the lever is in the reverse indicating position, that is, when the lever is stopped by the engagement ofdog 11 with latch 26 while moving from the normal to the reverse position. Contact X is closed when the lever is moved a short distance away from its normal position, that is, when the lever is stopped by the engagement of dog 7 with latch 26. Contact Y is similarly closed when the lever is moved a short distance away from its reverse position, that is, when the lever is stopped by the engagement of dog 8 with latch 26, while the lever is moving from its reverse position. The reference characters applied to these lever-operated contacts are in accordance with the standard nomenclature adopted by the Railway. Signal Association. 7

In order to simplify the drawing, I have in some instances omitted the source of ourrentand the common return wires. In such instances, the symbol represents one terminal of a source of current, while the symbol 0 represents the otherterminal.

The operation of the apparatus shown in V Fig. 1, is as follows In this View the lever L is shown in normal position and the other parts of the apparatus are in the positions corresponding to this position of the lever. When it is desired to reverse the railway switch A, the

lever L i first moved in clockwise direction until it is arrested by the engagement of dog 7 on segment S with latch 26. The lever is then in the normal detecting position. This movement is sufiicient to close contact.X, whereupon ifthe track circuit comprising battery 2 and the track relay 3 is unoccupied, magnet M becomes energized to raise the latch 26 out of the path of dog 7. The

circuit for this magnet is from one terminal of a suitable source of current through'contact 4 of track relay 3, wire 5, contact X, wire 6, magnet M to the other terminal of the source of current. The lever L can then be moved in clockwise direction until it is stopped in reverse indicating position by the engagement of dog 11 on segment S with the latch 26. During such movement of the lever this latch is elevated by dog 10, but is later drawn back to its'latching position by the projection 9 on the under surface of segment S Latch'26, which was elevated to permit dog 7 to pass thereunder, returns to its retracted position as soon as the lever is moved out of the detecting position, be-

cause of the opening of contact X; if there is any tendency for this latch 26 to remain in the elevated position, it is positively withdrawn by a similar projection 9 of segnient SP. This latch is engaged by dog 8 at the same time that latch 26 is engaged by dog 11. The leveris now in reverse indicating position, so that contacts D and D are closed. During this movement of the lever, the pole-changer F has reversed the polarity of the current supplied to relay E, so that the switch operating and locking mecha-' nism C is actuated to reverse the switch A.

changer P is moved out of the extreme position in which it is shown, so that relay R becomes deenergizedand is placed onjshort V circuit; after the movement and locking of the switch A have been accomplished, polechanger P reaches its reverse extreme position, and so causes relay Rto become enercircuitfrom one. terminal of a suitable source of current, through the back point of contact 16 of relay-R, wire 17, contact D wires 18, 19 and 6, and winding of magnet 115 7 As oon as the switch begins to move, pole- 'M to the other terminal of the source. This causes latch 26 to be movedout the path of dog 8, and this movement of the latch closes contact 20, whereupon a holding circuit for magnet M is closed, which circuit is independent of contact 16 of relay B. This holding circuit is from one terminal of the source of current, through contact 20, wire 21, and thence through contact D and magnet M as before. It follows, therefore, that magnet M remains energized after relay R becomes energized and until contact D is opened. When relay R becomes energized in the reverse direction, the indication magnet M becomes energized through a circuit from one terminal of a source of current, through the upper point of contact 16 of relay R, wire 22, contact 27-27, wire 23, contact D, wire 24, and winding of magnet M to the other terminal of the source. The energization of magnet M raises latch 26* out of the path of dog 11, so that the lever is then free to be swung to its full reverse position. The movement ofthe lever to this latter position opens contacts D and D, so that latches 26 and 26 return to their latching positions, the latch 26 being, of course, on the righthand side of dog 8, so'that the lever is locked in the reverse position.

The operation of the apparatus to move the switch A from reverse position to normal position, is similar to the operation just described. The release of the lever in reverse position is obtained by movingthe lever far enough to close contact Y. On further movement of the lever to normal indicating position, contacts B and B become closed, so that when relay R becomes energized in normal direction, both latches 26 and 26 are elevated to permit the lever to be swung to full normal position.

Referring now to Fig. 2, the apparatus shown herein is exactly the same as that shown in Fig. 1, except that two segments S and S are provided for normal and-reverse indication, respectively. The lever L is stopped in reverse indicating position by the dog 11 on segment S and it is stopped in the normal indicating position by dog 10 on segment S The circuit'for releasing the lever in reverse indicating position is from contact 16of relay B, through wire 22, contact 272" of relay R, wire 23, contact D,

and wire 24:, to latchmagnet M The'cir cuit for releasing the lever in normal indicating position is from contact 16 of relay B, through wire 22, contact 2727 wire .23. contact B, and wire 24: to magnet M The control of magnet "M by contacts X and Y, and by contacts 13 and D is exactly the same as the control of this magnet in 1.-

It is'believed that the operation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2 will be apparent from the foregoing description taken in deenergized before the lever can be moved to full normal or full reverse position. The

lever is in this instance locked in the normal position by the coaction of latch 26 with dog 1O on segment S In order to release the lever, it is moved to the detecting position, wherein contact X becomes closed. If

the track relay 3 is energized, magnet M becomes energized to release the lever, so

that it then may be movedto reverse indicating position. The circuit for magnet M i v from the contact 4 of relay 3, through wire 5, contact X, and wires 6 and 28 to magnet M y The control of magnet M is as follows: When the indication relay R becomes de- .ener ized ma net M is ener ized throu h 7 b b b a circuit which passes from the back point of contact 16 ofrelay R, through wire 21, to the winding of magnet M The closure of contact 20, due to the elevation of latch 26,-

shown only two segments S 'and S which segments are employed to perform the same functions as'the segments in the preceding views, but in a somewhat different manner.

The operation of the apparatus shown in this view, is as follows: The lever L is shown in the normal position and the other parts of the apparatus are in the positions corresponding .to this position of the lever.

W hen it is desired to reverse theswitch A,"

the lever is first moved to detecting position, wherein contact X is closed and wherein the lever is arrested by dog 10 on segmcntS hiagnet M then becomescnergized to release the lever, the circuit for this magnet being from contact 41 of relay 3, through wire .5. contact X, wire 6, contact 29. wire 30, and

wire 30", to magnet DP. Contact 29 is closed only when latch 26 is in the latching position, and, consequently, it will be seen that the lever can be released only when'magnet M is deenergized. The lever can thenbe moved to its reverse indicating position which passes from the back point or contact and wires 82 and 30 to magnet M current.

16 of relay it, through wire 31, contact D The elevation of latch 26 closes contact 20 so that after relay It becomes energized, magnet M remains energized by virtue of its stick circuit which is from contact D through wire 33, contact 20, and wire 3 V to magnet h As soon as relay R becomes energized in reverse direction, magnet M becomes energized in the same manner as in the preceding views, so that the lever can then be moved to its full reverse position.

The o eration of the apparatus during movement of the switch from reverse position to normal position will be understood without further explanation. It will be noted that in order to release the lever from the reverse position, latch 26 must be in latching position, as, otherwise, the de- 'tector circuit for magnet M will be open at contact 29 Referring now to Fig. 5,the ap aratus here shownis similar to that shown in Fig. 1, and the control of the locking magnet M by contacts X and Y and by the track relay 3 is exactly the same as in. Fig. 1. The control of the indication magnet Mtis as follows: Operatively connected with the switch A is contact which connects the positive terminal of a source of current with a-wire 8G or with a wire 38 according as the switch is in normal or reverse position. Magnet M is provided with a circuit which passes from the positive terminal of this source of current through contact 35, wire 36, wire 37, contact B, wire 24, and magnet M to terminal 0 or the same source of This circuitis, of course, closed only when the switch is in normal position and the lever ii is in the normal indicating position. lilagnet M. is provided with another circuit which passes from the positive terminal oi the source of current through contact 35, wires 88 and contact D, wire 1 2e and magnet M to the terminal O of the same source of current. This circuitis, of course, reverse position and the lever is in the reverse'indicating position. The first of these circuits 1 will term the normal indication circuit and the second I will term thereverse indication circuit.

The indication relay, which in this View is designated by the reference character R, is controlled by switch-operated contact 35 and by two lever-operated contacts N and RF. Contact N is closedwhile the lever is in *thenounal position, or the reverseindicating position, or'at any point between these closed only when the switch is in the two positions. Contact B is closed while the lever is in the reverse position, orthe normal indicating position, or at any point between these two positions. One circuit for relay R is from the positive terminal of a source of current through contact 85, wire 36, wire 36, contact N wires lll 'and ll and relay R to the terminal 0 of the same source of current. The other circuit for this relay includes contact 35, wire 38,

wire 38, contact R and wire lO".

he energizing circuit for-magnet'fM is from the positive terminal of a source oi current through contact 16 of relay R, wire 17, contact B or D wires 19 and 6, and magnet M to the terminal 0 of the same source of current. The holding circuit for this magnet is from the'positive terminal of the source of current, through contact '20 operated by latch 26, wires 21 and 17, contact B or D wire 19, wire'6 and magnet M to terminal 0 of the source of current.

The operation of the-apparatus shown in Fig. 5, is as follows:

When it is desired to move switch A to the reverse position, lever L is moved to its reverse indicating position in the same manner as in Fig. 1. This reverses pole-changer F,

so that the switch operating and locking mechanism C is actuated to'reverse the switch. As soon as the switch begins to move, contact 35 moves out'of engagement with wire 36 and so causes relay R to become deenergized. l Vhen this occurs, the. energizing circuit for magnet M is closed, so that latch 26 is moved upwardly out of the path of dog 8, and this movement of the vlatch. closes contact 20, whereupon the holdmovement of the lever to its full reverse position opens contacts D and D so that llO latches 26 and 26 return to their latching positions, the former latch being, of course, on the right-hand side :of dog 8, so that the lever is locked in the reverse position.

The operation of the apparatus to move the switchfrom the reverse to thenormal position will be understood from the fore going explanation. I I h Q Referring now to'all of the views, it will be seen that when the lever is moving from normal to reverse position it can be released from the reverse indicating position only in the event that relay R or-R has become deenergized, that is, only in the event that the switch responds. It will iurthermore be seen that if the switch A fails to respond to the movement of the lever to reverse indicating position, the lever cannot be' returned to its full normal position. The reason for this is that magnet M (in Figs. 1, 2,3 and 5) or magnet M (in Fig. 4) cannot become energized to elevate the latch 26 unless relay R (R in Fig. 5) is deenergized. On the other hand, assuming that the switch A makes a partial movement in response to movement of the lever L, and.

that the switch then becomes blocked by an obstruction so that it cannot make a complete movement to the reverse position. The reverse indication obviously cannot be obtained, but the lever L may be returned to normal indicating position, and if the switch A responds by a movement to full normal position, the normal indication will be received and the lever L may be returned to its full normal position.

' and wire 40. This will prevent deenergization of the relay, even though the switch pended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1. In railway .trafiic controlling apparatus comprising a railway switch, a lever for the 1 control thereof, electromagnetic means controlled by said switch and energized in one direction or the other according as the switch occupies one position or the other and deenergized when the switch occupies intermediate positions, and means controlled by said electromagnetic means for preventing completion of a movement of the lever until thecswitch has completed its movement in response to a partial movement of the lever; the combination with the foregoing J instrumentalitie's of apparatus controlled by said electromagnetic means for preventing completion of the movement of the lever unless said electromagnetic means becomes deenergized due to movement of the switch away from its initial position.

2. Railway trafiic controlling apparatus of the type comprising a railway switch, a lever for the control thereof, rerpeating means governed by said switch and having three controlling conditions two corresponding to the two extreme positions of the switch and the third corresponding to intermediate positions of the switch, apparatus controlled by said repeating means for locking said lever after a partial movement thereof and releasing the lever afterthe switch has made a complete'movement in response to such partial movement, characterized by the combination with said lever and said repeating means of apparatus controlled by said repeating means for locking the lever in said partially moved position and for releasing the lever only whenthe repeating means is in the condition corresponding to intermediate positions of the switch.

3. Railway traflic controlling apparatus ofthe type comprising a railway switch, a lever for the control thereof, and indicating means controlled by the switch and by the lever for locking the lever after a partial movement of the latter and releasing the lever after the switch has completed its movement in response to such partial movement, characterized by the combination therewith of further apparatus controlled by the switch for locking the lever in such partially moved position and releasing the lever only when the switch occupies an intermediate position.

4. Railway traffic controlling apparatus of the type comprising a railway switch, a lever for the control thereof, and indicating means controlled by the switch, and by the lever for locking the lever after a partial movement of the latter and releasing the lever after the switch has completed its movement in response to such partial movement; characterized by the combination therewith, of further apparatus for locking the lever in such partially moved position,

and means controlled by the switch and the 'lever for releasing said further locking apparatus when the-switch occupies an inter- 1 mediate position and for thereafter holding it released until the lever has been moved beyond said position. 7

5. Railway traffic controlling apparatus of the type comprising a railway switch, a lever for the control thereof, and indicating means controlled by the switch for locking the lever after a partial movement thereof and releasing the lever after the switch has completed it movement in response to' such partial movement; characterized by the com bination therewith of a detector latch, an

electromagnet for actuating said latch, a "1 segment fixed to said lever and having a dog co-acting with said latch to lock the lever in said partially moved position when said electromagnet is denergized, an energizing c1rcuit for said electromagnet closed only when said switch is in an intermediate position, and a holding circuit for said electromagnet closed only while the latch is in the actuated position and the lever is in said partially moved position.

6. Railway trafiic controlling apparatus of the type comprising a railway switch, a lever for the control thereof, and indicating means controlled by the switch for locking the lever after a partial movement thereof and releasing the lever after the switch has completed its movement in response to such partial movement; characterized by the combination therewith of a separate electrically controlled, device. for locking said leverin said partially movedposition, and a circuit for said device controlled by said switch and closed only when the switch is in an intermediate position. 7

7. Railway traiiic controlling apparatus of the type comprising a railway switch, a lever for the control thereof, and indicating means'controlled by the switch for locking the lever after a partial movement thereof and. releasing the lever after the switch has completed its movement in response to such partial movement; characterized by the combination therewith of repeating means controlled by said switch, a separate electrically controlled device for locking said lever in said partially moved position, an energizing circuit for said device controlled by said repeating means and closed only when such means is in the condition corresponding to intermediate positions of the switch, and a holding circuit ior'said device closed only wlien the device is energized and the lever is in said partially moved position. 7

8. Railway traflic controlling apparatus of the type comprising a railway switch having a normaland a reverse position, a lever for the control thereof and having normal and reverse positions also normal indicating and reverse indicating positions; characterized by the combination of two segments fixed to said lever and each having two dogs, a latch for each segment coacting with the dogs thereon to lock'the lever innormal and reverse indicating positions respectively, an electromagnet for each latch for actuating the latch to release thelever, a circuit for one electromagnet closed only when the switch is in normal position and the lever is in normal indicating position, a circuit for the other electromagnet closed only when the switch is in reverse position and the lever is in reverse indicating position, an energizing circuit for each electromagnet one or the other of which is closed according as the lever is in normal or reverse indicating position and the switch is in an intermediate position, and a holding circit for each electromagnet one or the other of which 1s closed according as the lever is in'normal or reverse indicating position and the corresponding latch is in releasing position.

9. Railway traflic controlling apparatus comprising a railway switch, a lever for the control thereof, indication means controlled by the two for locking the lever after a partial movement thereof and releasing the lever after the switch has completed its movement in response to such partial movement, a

relay controlled by the switch and by the lever, and energized when the two harmonize in extreme positions but deenergized when the switch occupies an intermediate position, and further means controlled by said relay for locking the lever in said partially moved position and for releasing the lever only when the relay is deenergized.

10. Railway traflic controlling apparatus comprising a railway switch, a lever for the control thereof, locking means for locking said lever in an intermediate position, and means controlled by the switch for-releasing said locking means only when the switch occupies an intermediate position.

11. Railway traffic controlling apparatus comprising a railway switch, a lever for the control thereof, locking means for locking said lever in an intermediate position, means controlled by the switch for releasing said locking means only when the switch occupies an intermediate position, and apparatus con trolled by said locking means and by said lever for keeping said locking means in releasing position until the lever has been moved beyond said intermediate position.

12. Railway trafiic-controllingapparatus comprising a railway switch, a lever for the control thereof, locking means forlocking said lever in an intermediateposition, a relay controlled bysaid switch and arranged to be energized or deenergized according as the switch occupies-an extreme or an intermediate position, and means controlled by said relay for releasing saidlocking means only when the relay is deenergized.

13. Bailway'traffic controlling apparatus comprising a railway switch a lever for the control thereof, locking .means for locking said lever'in an intermediate position, a relay controlled by said switch and arranged to be energized .or denergized according as the switch. occupies an extreme position or an intermediate position, means controlled ,by said relay for releasing said locking means only when the relay is deenergized, and means controlled by said locking means and by said lever for keeping said locking means in the releasing position until the lever has been moved beyond said intermediate position. 7

M. Railway trafiic controlling apparatus comprising a railway switch, a lever for the control thereof, locking means for locking said lever in an intermediate position, a relay controlled by said switch and arranged to be energized or deenergized according as the switch occupies an extreme position or an intermediateposition, an energizing circuit for said locking means including a back contact of said relay, and a holding circuit for said locking means including a contact which is closed only when the locking means is in releasing position and a contact which is closed when said lever is in said intermediate. position.

15. Railway traffic controlling apparatus comprising a railway switch, a lever for the control thereof, locking means for locking sald lever in an intermediate position, means controlled by the switch for releasing said locking means only when the switch occupiesv an intermediate position, additional locking means for locking said lever in said intermediate position, and means for releasing said additional locking means only when the switch has made a complete movement in response to the partial movement of said lever to said intermediate position.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HAROLD S. LOOMIS.

Witnesses: V

A. HERMAN WEGNER, E. P. CRUM. 

